Washington (CNN) – They were in the same building Monday night, but President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner did not see or speak to each other, according to multiple Democratic and Republican sources.

The president hosted members of Congress for the black tie Congressional Ball at the White House amid the ongoing fiscal cliff standoff and posed with lawmakers in a receiving line, as is typical for these events.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

But the speaker was not among those to stand beside the president.

One Republican aide said it would be a mistake to read that as a snub, explaining the speaker spent the night socializing at a social event.

The event followed a contentious day between Democrats and Republicans over the impending fiscal deadline, after both political parties offered proposals deemed unacceptable by the other side.

soundoff(16 Responses)

The incivility of the GOP is over-the-top. They have ceased seeing people and are just out for political gain.

December 4, 2012 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

rs

If the GOP continues to press the needs of the rich 2% over the needs of the 98% they are committing political suicide.

December 4, 2012 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Rudy NYC

I thought those two guys were forming a mutual support team to quit smoking. I know Pres. Obama has pretty much quit, but Boehner is apparently still puffing until he's orange in the face.

December 4, 2012 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

California Gary

After putting the Romney plan on the table as the GOP response to the president's proposal......I'm surprised that Boehner would even show his face in public anywhere.......he must be very embarrassed. He certainly wouldn't be able to look the president in the eye.

Don't give a hoot if they socialize or like eachother....its about respect,responsibility and ethics!!! To thine self be true! Of coarse this assumes we have values other than self interest at our core!

December 4, 2012 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |

G man

OK, easy math; BHOs tax plan will create 55 BL$ in new taxes; the problem is the debt every yr is 1.2TR. So I ask how are we going to balance a budget this way? His cuts only add up to $800 billion in 10 yrs or 80BL a yr; still no where close to where it needs to be!

December 4, 2012 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |

Rick McDaniel

Miles apart..........no deal possible.

December 4, 2012 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

ST

The days for Boehner are numbered. Incase the fiscal cliff happens, he will not have his job beyond 2014. That is definitely.

December 4, 2012 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

oldladylisa

Is it okay to read "the speaker spent the night socializing" as "the speaker arrived at the event already happily smashed out of his gourd and would have been a tottering self-embarrassment if he appeared on the receiving line?"

December 4, 2012 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

Facts don't Lie

the Speaker is the "most reasonable person in Washington" we all know that so of course he wasn't snubbing the president. More than likey he is more afraid of Norquist and his Tea Party mob.

December 4, 2012 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |

Scott

Good on you Mr Speaker. This so call President does not deserve any respect, OBama needs to learn his place. The House calls the shots not the President, the people gave the House 2 more years to control our out of control President.

December 4, 2012 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

MrBeenThere

The GOP is acting like a chicken with it's head cut off running around in circles. The just don't know there dead yet. It's sick to say but it's really kind of funny.............

December 4, 2012 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

dave

Hey GOP 2014 is coming and either play nice or WE THE PEOPLE will make you pay by sending you to the unemployment line. Learn from your mistakes, then again don't cause yo are gone.

December 4, 2012 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Call him what you want, but with all due RESPECT, HIS NAME IS STILL PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA and I know you wish it were you, NOT.

December 4, 2012 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Santa Claus Government

Give Obama $500 billion in new taxes and cut the spending $500 billion. We'll STILL have a federal monster government almost twice a large a sit was when Clinton was president. If we keep feeding the monster all it does is keep growing. Pretty soon it will be a third of our economy and there is simply no way to pay for something that big.

December 4, 2012 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Babyboomer

We know Boehner and the BOYS can't stand the President so this comes as no surprise. But here's the real TEE HEE HEE. President Obama can't stand them either so I'm sure he could give less then a damn that Boehner was in the receiving line.